SSISD Pushes Start Of Classes Back To Sept. 1
SSISD trustees Thursday evening approved an amended 2020-21 school calendar that pushes the start of classes back from Aug. 18 to Sept. 1, and extends school hours on all campuses and all grades.
Reasons for Calendar Changes
This year will be different just as the spring semester was unique due to COVID-19. New guidelines released by Texas Education Agency and UIL since the July 13 meeting factored into the new calendar as did the need for additional training and planning time for teachers and the need to make the most of the days students are in school, as the COVID-19 situation could mean fewer days for the district, campus or individual students.
“This year, we’re uncertain of the days we’ll get students so we added time so the time we do get them is more valuable,” Superintendent Michael Lambsaid of adding 15 minutes to elementary students’ days.
Lamb, at the July 13 school board meeting, outlined the plans for the 2020-21 school year and reported that the requested calendar amendments would likely designate staff development and work days on the calendar approved in the spring as well as June as makeup days. This would meet the requirement to include about a month of days in case school has to close down for an extended period of time due to illness. Administrators on July 13 also anticipated sending out commitment letters to parents by July 23, asking them to select either an in-person learning option or a Virtual Academy learning option for their students by Aug. 4. However, administrators held off sending those letters until July 24, after the amended calendar was approved so that all information would be as current as possible. Parents can log into their Skyward Family Access account (or click here) to select their preference for their child as well as information about each option
Parents are asked to select a learning option by Aug. 4, but per state rules, will be allowed to change their mind through Aug. 18 – 2 weeks for school starts. Additional communication will be posted to the district website, including activities students and families can engage in to get their students mentally ready to return to class on Sept. 1. Those who can are asked to please make their decisions by Aug. 4. Those numbers will be used to determine the number teachers and staff needed for different classes and programs, and allow for space and adequate planning/training.
After preparing for the upcoming teacher work days, including shaping a schedule for the various required and needed curriculum and planning meetings, administrators saw a need to add in additional time for teachers to attend mandatory district wide training as well as curriculum and assignment planning to be ready for all of the known and potential changes the 2020-21 school year could present due to COVID-19 or other illnesses.
With the state allowing schools to start as late as a full week into September, the district opted to add 10 staff work days before school starts so that all teachers and staff are prepared as best as possible for any changes due to illness or other. That means providing about a week for campus and team planning, as well as classroom preparation and to allow teachers to begin contacting parents to make the start as easy a transition as possible. This should prepare Virtual Academy teachers so they can hand out devices on Aug. 28-29. This will also allow teachers to be involved in decisions for procedures and safety planning for their campus.
While not all teachers will be involved in the Virtual Academy, there is every likelihood that all teachers will have to be involved in some online teaching. For instance, if a regular school student tests positive or is exposed to someone who has COVID-19 which would require the student to be off campus for more than a couple of days, the student would need to do online learning. Because of the way the Virtual Academy is structured, the student would still be a regular in-person learner who receives instruction online. The student’s teacher would be in contact with the child and the student’s family through digital instruction so the student can complete class assignments from home and not fall behind the other students in their class or in their work assignments.
All teachers will receive training on strategies to better plan to do in-class lesson digitally, including specials teachers such as physical education, art and music, while engaging students should the school have to shut down for a few days or weeks due to COVID-19 or high numbers of illness such as the flu in students and staff. Teachers also have to be ready to help students, should their parents decide to switch learning styles after the first 9 weeks, transition into the other learning option.
Adding 10 staff days also changes grading periods, and work time planned during each, requiring some adjustments to the calendar as well. The STAAR testing schedule is unchanged, however. Districts are being strongly encouraged to move to strictly online STAAR testing. The district will be adjusting class pacing to better meet students’ academic needs, including administering an online review assessment at the beginning of the year for some grade levels to get those students ready for online testing.
Due to recently released UIL guidelines, SSISD had to revise sports schedules, particularly those for football and volleball for practices, scrimmages and games. The district opted to put 2 of the staff development days planned during the fall on days that the football team has long trips, adjusting for changes in games versus Frisco and Crandall in September and October. Officials are still awaiting additional guidance from UIL regarding band activities.
Calendar Changes
The current plan, which could change pending changing requirements from the state level and changes in the COVID-19 situation, is for teachers and staff will have 10 extra days added, Aug. 18-21, Aug. 24-28 and Aug. 31. That will push the start of classes for students back from Aug. 18 to Sept. 1.
To make up the difference in lost student days at the beginning of the school year without extending the school year, Lamb proposed that the school day be extended. The school day will be held from 7:50 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. Monday-Friday, from all students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with an 8 a.m. tardy bell.
The late start also changes the grading periods, which means the first semester won’t end until Jan. 14. The 9-week grading periods will now be Sept. 1-Oct. 29, Nov. 2-Jan. 14, Jan. 19-March 26 and March 29-May 26, provided schools do not have to make up days in June.
However, in the event makeup days become necessary, the following would be designated as potential makeup days: Jan. 15, Feb. 15, Feb. 26, April 2, April 12, May 17, May 27-28, and all weekdays in June.
Staff work day are currently planned to be held Sept. 25 and Oct. 16, instead of Sept. 18 and Oct. 12. This would allow staff to participate in training and preparation activities, scheduled on long football trip days so fewer students and staff will have to leave classes early to make the road trips for football games. Oct. 29 and Jan. 14-15 will also be staff days, adjusted to allow for training between grading periods.
July 23 COVID-19 Update: 2 New Cases, 63 Active Cases In Hopkins County
The number of COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County continues to grow daily. July 23, 2020 marks the fourth straight day this week and 17th day this month that new cases have been reported. At 5 p.m. July 23, Hopkins County Emergency Management officials reported they had received notification of 2 new COVID-19 cases for Hopkins County. There were no new recoveries on July 23.
Two patients were in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on July 23. One person had been released from the COVID-19 unit on July 23, according to Hopkins County Fire Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley.
That brings the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases for Hopkins County since March to 135, with more than half of those cases reported this month.
At the end of the first week of July, 10 new cases had been announced. New cases were reported every day from July 9-18, for a total of 45 additional residents testing positive for COVID-19 in Hopkins County, with 16 total recoveries. So far this week, there have been 17 new cases and 6 recoveries. That’s 72 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in July in Hopkins County, but reports of only 22 recoveries this month.
Of the 135 Hopkins County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, 72 have recovered from COVID-19, leaving 63 active cases of COVID-19 in Hopkins County on July 23, according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom.
Wood County Sheriff’s Report – July 15-21, 2020
Wood County Sheriff’s Office provided the following activity report for July 15-21, 2020:
- Suspicious Activity: 25
- Alarm: 13
- Burglary: 6
- Theft: 9
- Criminal Trespass: 7
- Assault: 4
- Disturbances/Disputes: 9
- Shots Fired: 3
- Criminal Mischief: 2
- Reckless Driver: 10
- Terroristic Threat: 2
- Welfare Check: 8
- Arrest/Warrant Services: 3
- Livestock at Large: 7
- Harassment: 3
- Damaged Property: 2
- Fraud/Scam: 3
- Motorist Assist: 3
- Animal Complaint: 13
- Traffic Stop with Arrests: 1
- Structural Fire: 1
- Abandoned Vehicle: 3
- Identity Theft: 1
- Inquest: 1
- Shots Fired: 3
- Found Property: 3
- Noise Complaint: 4
Sulphur Springs Announces 2020 Football Schedule
SSISD Athletic Director and Varsity Head Coach, Greg Owens, announced the schedule for the 2020-2021 season for what will be a delayed football season. With the UIL’s latest adjustements due to the Covid-19 pandemic of delaying fall sports for 5A & 6A schools, Sulphur Springs had to scramble to find new opponents for some of the pre-district games since 4A schools will not be delayed and those opponent’s schedules would no longer match up with SSISD. The UIL is allowing all 1A through 4A schools to have their practices and start their games at the normal times.
The following is the Sulphur Springs Varsity Football Schedule for 2020, pending any changes from the UIL.
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | Location | ||
| Sept 18 | Mt. Pleasant (scrm) | 7:00 | SS – Gerald Prim Stadium | ||
| Sept 25 | Frisco Wakeland | 7:30 | Frisco – Toyota Stadium | ||
| Oct 2 | Lovejoy | 7:30 | SS – Gerald Prim Stadium | ||
| Oct 9 | Hallsville (Homecoming) | 7:30 | SS – Gerald Prim Stadium | ||
| Oct 16 | *Crandall | 7:30 | Crandall – Pirate | ||
| Oct 23 | *Ennis | 7:30 | SS – Gerald Prim Stadium | ||
| Oct 30 | OPEN | ||||
| Nov 6 | *Royse City | 7:30 | Royse City Stadium | ||
| Nov 13 | *Corsicana | 7:30 | SS – Gerald Prim Stadium | ||
| Nov 20 | *Greenville | 7:30 | Greenville | ||
| Nov 27 | *Forney | 7:30 | Forney – City Bank Stadium | ||
| Dec 4 | *North Forney (Sr Night) | 7:30 | SS – Gerald Prim Stadium |
SSISD athletic staff is still working on sub-varsity schedules and match-ups. Those schedules will be posted here when confirmed.
Tips For Making Your Home A Mosquito-Free Zone
If you haven’t been outdoors much lately, you may not have notices that it’s nigh on mosquito season in Texas (although some would argue based on the number of flies buzzing about of late that it’s fly season).
As more people are out and about, Texas Department of State Health Services reminds people to take precautions to avoid not only the discomfort of mosquito bites but also the potential of contracting illness from them.
DSHS July 23 reported that the first case of West Nile virus disease reported this year was in an adult resident of Tarrant County who later died.
While only about 20 percent of people exposed to the West Nile virus develop symptoms like headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. In a very small proportion, less than one percent, the virus affects the nervous system, leading to a more serious illness that can cause neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and even death, according to DSHS.
In the last 10 years, Texas has reported more than 3,300 cases of West Nile disease, including 172 deaths, the state agency reports.
DSHS urges people to guard against West Nile virus by going to WAR with mosquitos by employing the following precautions:
- WEAR long sleeves and pants. Create a barrier to mosquito bites by covering up.
- APPLY insect repellent. Use EPA-registered repellent such as those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus/p-menthane-diol.
- REMOVE standing water. Emptying out water that accumulates in toys, tires, trash cans, buckets, clogged rain gutters and plant pots will deny mosquitoes a place to lay their eggs and reproduce.
Paris SBDC Holding Virtual Meeting to Help Restaurant Owners
Paris Junior College
Public Information Services
Those in the hospitality and food industry looking for assistance may register with the Paris Small Business Development Center for a virtual meeting to be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28.
Meeting presenter is Chris Tripoli, founder of A’ La Carte Foodservice Consulting Group, who has 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry. In addition to his company, Tripoli remains active in The Foodservice Consultant Society International, The Texas Restaurant Association, and serves on the advisory board of The University of Houston Small Business Development Center.
Those wishing to attend the meeting, held on Zoom, should register for the meeting on Paris SBDC Facebook Event/Eventbrite registration link to receive log-in information to the meeting, or may contact Paris SBDC at 903-782-0224 or email [email protected] to register.
Between being forced to close and adjusting to restricted dining capacity, local restaurants have been placed in crisis from the pandemic. Many are still doing a majority of their business through drive through or curb side service. With employee issues, product cost increases, new sanitation measures and very cautious guests, where do restaurants go from here and succeed under the new normal?
This one-hour program takes a hard look at how the independent restaurant operator has faced this crisis and redesigned processes for greater efficiency. It will address the complexity of menu offerings and re-examining management structure and staff responsibilities in order to maximize effectiveness.
The program will also demonstrate how to adjust financial models to maintain success during this period of lower revenue expectations and review marketing strategies to repair and maintain guest confidence levels in dining out again.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
The Edge For Football Ends, So What’s Next?
It appears that The Edge for this summer is all wrapped up. Expect for one final session Thursday evening at the Wildcat Tennis Center. All other venues were very quiet Thursday.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said after the UIL made the decision delaying football and volleyball’s start of practice until Sept. 7, he decided to end The Edge.
He said he did not want the football attendees to suffer burn out. Coach Owens said his players had a very beneficial Edge for seven or eight weeks. He said the additional skill work allowed by the UIL this summer has been very helpful. He called it a game changer.
What comes next may not be called The Edge but, it will somewhat resemble it. Coach Owens expects to resume strength, conditioning and skill work on Aug. 10. Unlike the morning Edge, the August sessions are scheduled to take place in the late afternoon and evening.
Teacher in-service, affecting coaches, is scheduled to get under way Aug. 6. For football on August 10, Coach Owens plans for entering 8th and 9th graders to show up from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., with incoming 10th through 12 graders going from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
He said it will look a lot like two-a-days minus helmets or pads. Expect more offensive and defensive work with the addition of special teams work.
School is currently scheduled to get under way on Aug. 18. Coach Owens said the UIL will allow a couple of hours of skill work per day then. Again, Wildcats sessions will take place after school. The official start of football practice for the Wildcats is Monday, Sept. 7.
With the new start up date, the Wildcats had their scrimmages reduced from two to just one. Both of their planned scrimmage foes were lost because Liberty-Eylau and Pleasant Grove are Class 4A schools that can begin football earlier on Aug. 3.
Coach Owens is working to reschedule that one scrimmage. Tentative plans call for the Wildcats to scrimmage Mount Pleasant in the evening on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Gerald Prim Stadium.
As previously reported, Coach Owens also had to replace Class 4A Kaufman from the schedule. He has replaced Kaufman with Hallsville for the Wildcats homecoming game.
It appears, barring other circumstances during the age of coronavirus, that the Wildcats will be able to play all 10 games on their schedule, which will include an open date.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Click here for more Wildcat and Lady Cat Sports
SSPD: Investigation Into Alleged Sexual Offenses Revealed Additional Child Victims
Investigation into alleged sexual offenses involving a 57-year-old Sulphur Springs, TX man revealed additional victims and resulted in an additional charge, according to Sulphur Springs Police Detective Sgt. Brian Shurtleff.
Kenneth Charles Smith has remained in Hopkins County jail since his arrest on September 4, 2019, on an indecency with a child by sexual contact warrant.
A 15-year-old, who does not reside in Sulphur Springs, reportedly made an outcry and Sulphur Springs police were contacted last fall. The teen alleged she was sexually molested at a Sulphur Springs address when she was 11 years old. The teen was interviewed at a child advocacy center by a forensic interviewer specially trained to speak with juveniles regarding allegations of abuse or crimes. Based on the police investigation, a warrant was obtained for Smith’s arrest on the indecency with a child by sexual contact charge, Shurtleff reported following Smith’s arrest.
The warrant was executed at the man’s residence and Smith was taken into custody at 2:30 p.m. September 4, 2019 on the charge. Smith was indicted on the indecency charge during the November 2019 Grand Jury session.
The investigation continued following Smith’s arrest. A total of four child victims have been identified. Based on the police investigation, “[Smith] was preying on early teens and prepubescent teens,” Shurtleff alleged.
Shurtleff served 57-year-old Smith at the county jail at 1:35 p.m. July 20, 2020 with an additional warrant alleging continuous sexual abuse of a child based on the additional allegations from the investigation. Smith remains in jail on the charges.
A continuous sexual abuse of a child charge is a first-degree felony offense, punishable upon conviction with “imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life, or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 25 years,” according to Title 5, Chapter 21, Section 21.02 of Texas Penal Code.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Tanker Truck Overturns on FM 275 In Cumby
An 18-wheel tanker truck overturned in Cumby, TX Wednesday afternoon. The tanker spilled liquid cream, fuel and oil onto the road and ditch. The driver and loan occupant sustained minor injuries, officials reported.
The tanker truck was reportedly traveling north on FM 275 around 4:10 p.m. The driver went into the curve approaching Frisco Street too fast, causing the truck to overturn onto it’s side. A Cumby Volunteer firefighter that had been traveling behind the truck reportedly stopped and helped the driver get out of the damaged cab. The truck driver sustained some bumps and bruises, but refused to be transported to the hospital by EMS, according to fire reports.
When Hopkins County and Cumby fire units arrived they found the fuel tank had ruptured. Oil and fuel were spilling out of the tractor and the attached tank was also leaking product – liquid cream.
Firefighters began using absorbent to help control the fluids until Fuller’s Towing and Recovery staff arrived with their hazardous materials equipment to finish controlling the leak. Eventually the truck was returned back to an upright position.
Firefighters and emergency personnel cleared the crash site around 7:15 p.m., except for one Cumby VFD unit. CVFD remaining on scene to assist with traffic control so Fuller’s could use excavators to remove contaminated soil and product from the area, fire officials reported.
